Camera with multiple viewfinders

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for controlling the display of a portable electronic device having a camera application, a viewfinder having at least two viewfinder resolutions, and a sensor array, is provided. When a zoom level of the camera application is 1×, a first image is generated by scaling a predetermined number of rows and columns of pixels of the sensor array to a first viewfinder resolution at a given frame rate. When the zoom level is greater than 1×, a region of interest of the predetermined number of rows and columns of pixels is cropped in accordance with the zoom level and a second image is generated by scaling the cropped region of interest to a second viewfinder resolution smaller than the first viewfinder resolution at a frame rate higher than the given frame rate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/695,074 filed Apr. 2, 2007, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to digital cameras and moreparticularly to a digital camera with multiple viewfinders, adapted foruse within a portable electronic device.

BACKGROUND

Portable electronic devices continue to get smaller and incorporate morefunctions, such as traditional personal digital assistant (“PDA”)functionality with cellular telephony and wireless email capability. Inaddition to functions oriented toward the business user, it is alsoknown to incorporate music and video players as well as cameraapplications for consumer market devices.

Conventional film cameras use a photosensitive film to capture an image,whereas digital cameras use electronic photosensors such as chargecoupled device (CCD) or complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)chips. The term “photosensor” as used in this specification means anydevice(s) or material(s) capable of receiving and capturing radiantenergy, and being at least partially capable of converting the radiantenergy into electronic signals that become a virtual representation ofthe optical image. A CCD or CMOS “camera-on-a-chip” includes an array ofvery fine electronic “picture elements” or “pixels” arranged inhorizontal rows and vertical columns that define an image resolutionmatrix.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,841,126 describes an exemplary camera chip that may beincorporated into a portable electronic device.

Most camera applications utilize a “rolling shutter” mechanism forclocking out successive rows of pixels from the array. Typically, therows of pixels are refreshed or reset in sequence, starting at the topof the image and proceeding row by row to the bottom. When this refreshprocess has progressed a predetermined distance down the image, thereadout process begins, wherein data from rows of pixels are read out insequence, starting at the top and proceeding row by row to the bottom inthe same manner and at the same speed as the refresh process.

The rate at which the pixel data is clocked out depends on threefactors: 1) frame size (larger resolutions require higher clock rates);2) frame rate (higher frame rates require higher clock rates; and 3)amount of digital zoom applied (higher zoom levels require higher clockrates).

Data clocked out of the array at high data rates places significantdemands on baseband processing capabilities. Also, there is a practicallimit to the rate at which the baseband processor can accept data fromthe photosensor array. Baseband processing capabilities therefore playan important role in determining the size of the camera viewfinder. Inthis specification, the term “viewfinder” refers to a digitalviewfinder, implemented as a software application executed by aprocessor, in conjunction with the photosensor array and a display. Thesoftware application mimics the function of an optical viewfinder thatis used on a conventional camera.

Optimizing one of the three factors discussed above results inlimitations being imposed on the other two factors. Thus, a largerviewfinder provides better aesthetics at the expense of a slower framerate (or refresh rate) and lower zoom level. Conversely, a smallerviewfinder provides higher frame rate and/or zoom level at the expenseof aesthetics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments, which are purely exemplary, will now be discussed withreference to the attached Figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a front view of a portableelectronic device in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a rear view of the portableelectronic device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of certain internal components of the deviceof FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting a method of controlling the display of aportable electronic device in accordance with FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 shows the device in FIG. 1 in relation to a subject to bephotographed;

FIG. 6 shows a crop selection screen that can be generated in accordancewith another embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting a method of selecting a viewfinderresolution and performing digital zoom according to an exemplaryembodiment; and

FIG. 8 shows a menu screen on the device in FIG. 1 for selecting aviewfinder resolution.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

As discussed in greater detail below, according to an aspect of thisspecification, a portable electronic device is set forth with a cameraapplication having user-selectable multiple viewfinders. By activating asmaller viewfinder, the application provides the user with a higherrefresh rate and greater digital zoom, whereas activation of a largerviewfinder provides the user with a larger viewing area. The largerviewing area also provides better visibility in low lighting conditions,but restricts the maximum refresh rate that can be used due to bandwidthconsiderations. As an example, 20 fps at 240*180 may be equivalent to 15fps 320*240 from a bandwidth perspective. Higher refresh rates areadvantageous in bright lighting conditions for minimizing blurriness.Thus, a 240*180 viewfinder at 20 fps will present a less blurry imagethan a 320*240 at 15 fps in good lighting, and is aestheticallypreferable.

In low light conditions, however, the camera frame rate will decrease inany event in order to gather more light on the sensor. Thus, in a dimlylit room, for example, the camera may have to adjust its frame rate to 8fps in order to properly expose the sensor. In such a case, the 320*240viewfinder does not provide any disadvantage whatsoever with respect toa 240*180 viewfinder, since 8 fps falls within the allowable range ofboth. In such a case, then, the 320*240 viewfinder provides the userwith a better viewing experience.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a front view of a portable electronic device inaccordance with an embodiment is indicated generally at 30. In a presentembodiment, device 30 includes the functionality of a wirelesstelephone, a wireless email paging device and a digital camera.

As best seen in FIG. 1, device 30 includes a housing 34 that frames aplurality of input devices in the form of a keyboard 38, a set of keys42 (one of which may be a menu key), a trackball 46 and a microphone 50.Housing 34 also frames a plurality of output devices in the form of adisplay 54 and a speaker 58.

Accordingly, a user of device 30 can interact with the input devices andoutput devices to send and receive emails, conduct voice telephonecalls, manage appointments and contacts, browse the Internet, andperform such other functions as can be found on a known or as-yetunconceived electronic device such as device 30.

It is to be understood that device 30 is simplified for purposes ofexplanation, and that in other embodiments device 30 can include,additional and/or different functions and/or applications, and includeinput and output devices accordingly. Such other functionality caninclude music playing, audio recording and video playing. An example ofa combined input/output device would include a Universal Serial Bus(“USB”) port, a headset jack to connect a handsfree headset to device30, or a Bluetooth™ (or equivalent technology) transceiver. Likewise, itwill be understood from the teachings herein that certain functionsincluded in device 30 can be omitted.

In a present embodiment, device 30 also includes a camera. Referring nowto FIG. 2, a rear view of device 30 is shown. Device 30 thus alsoincludes an additional input device in the form of a camera lens 60 andan additional output device in the form of a flash 66. As discussed ingreater detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, lens 60 focuseslight on image capturing photosensor chip 62, which incorporates anarray of photosensitive elements, for creating an electronic signal ofthe image that impinges thereon via the camera lens 60.

In one embodiment, the form factor of device 30 is constructed so that auser can grasp device 30 with either a left hand, or right hand, and beable to activate keys 42 and trackball 46 with the thumb. (Whiletrackball 46 is configured for the thumb, it should be understood thatusers can use other digits on their hands as well). By the same token,lens 60 and photosensor chip 62 are disposed behind display 54 so thatthe index finger of the user, when wrapped around device 30, does notobscure the lens and thereby interfere with the use of device 30 as acamera. The positioning of lens 60 behind display 54 also improves theusability of display 54 as a viewfinder when device 30 is acting as acamera, as the display 54 will present the scenery to the user that isdirectly behind display 54.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram representing certain internalcomponents of device 30 is shown. Device 30 thus includes a processor 78which interconnects the input devices of device 30 (i.e. trackball 46,keys 42, keyboard 38, photosensor chip 62 and microphone 50) and theoutput devices of device 30 (i.e. speaker 58, display 54 and flash 66).Processor 78 is also connected to a persistent storage device 82.(Persistent storage device 82 can be implemented using flash memory orthe like, and/or can include other programmable read only memory (PROM)technology and/or can include read-only memory (ROM) technology and/orcan include a removable “smart card” and/or can be comprised ofcombinations of the foregoing.) As discussed in greater detail below,processor 78 executes a plurality of applications stored in persistentstorage device 82, such as an email application, telephony application,Web-browsing application calendar application, contacts application,camera application and other applications that will be known to a personof skill in the art.

Device 30 also includes a wireless radio 86 disposed within housing 34that connects wirelessly to one of a network of base stations to providethe wireless email, telephony and Web-browsing application functionalityreferred to above.

Device 30 also includes a battery 90 which is typically rechargeable andprovides power to the components of device 30. In a present, purelyexemplary embodiment, battery 90 is a lithium battery having anoperating voltage of between about 3.0 Volts minimum to about 4.2 Voltsmaximum. In FIG. 3, for simplicity battery 90 is only shown connected toprocessor 78, but it will be understood that battery 90 is connected toany component (e.g. photosensor chip 62, radio 88, display 54 and flash66) within device 30 that needs power to operate.

Device 30 also includes volatile storage 94, which can be implemented asrandom access memory (RAM), which can be used to temporarily storeapplications and data as they are being used by processor 78.

As discussed above, examples of known photosensor chips 62 includecharge coupled devices (CCDs) and CMOS devices, which create anelectronic signal of the image that impinges thereon via the camera lens60. As will be known to a person of skill in the art, photosensor chip62 incorporates an array of horizontal rows and vertical columns ofphotosensitive pixels that define an image resolution matrix. Themaximum resolution of the camera determines the size of the pixel array.Thus, a 1.3 MP camera has a pixel array of dimensions 1280×1024, while a2 MP camera has a pixel array of dimensions 1600×1200 (actually 1.9 MP).Each pixel also has an image resolution “depth”. For example, the pixeldepth of the may be 8 bits, wherein the minimum pixel brightness valueis 0 and the maximum pixel brightness (saturation) value is 255.

Upon exposure to imaging light from a subject, the lens 60 focuses thelight onto the array of photosensor chip 62 which collect discrete lightenergies or photon charges corresponding to or mapping the photographicsubject or object column-by-column, row-by-row, and pixel-by-pixel suchthat a photon charge representation of the subject is obtained.(Original) The photosensor chip 62 processes the photon charges andconverts them into useful digital signals that are clocked out forstorage in volatile storage 94.

Also, as will be understood by a person of skill in the art, suchphotosensor devices are incorporated into semiconductor chips that alsoprovide sophisticated scaling algorithms for presenting viewfinders 100of different resolution. Examples of known scaling algorithms includethose set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,398 to Klein, et al. and U.S.Pat. No. 5,999,663 to Edwards et al. Referring now to FIG. 4 a method ofpresenting multiple viewfinders (e.g. 240×180 and 320×240 ‘full screen’)on the display 54 of device 30 is represented in a flowchart andindicated generally at 300. To assist in understanding method 300, themethod will be explained in terms of its performance using device 30.However, it is to be understood that this discussion is not be construedin a limiting sense, and that method 300 can be performed on devicesother than device 30, and/or that method 300 can be varied.

Beginning at step 310, a request for the camera application is received.On device 30, this step can be effected by user rotation of trackball 46for scrolling through the various device applications, until the cameraapplication is highlighted. Once highlighted, the user can depresstrackball 46 to actually request the camera application. When processor78 receives an input via trackball 46 that the user desires to use thecamera application, method 300 will advance from step 310 to step 315.

Next, at steps 315 and 320, the viewfinder is activated at a defaultzoom level and resolution. As used herein, the term “zoom” refers to adigital zoom, which is a zooming effect that is accomplished through asoftware application executing on processor 78. The software applicationprocesses images received from photosensor chip 62 and generatescorresponding images on display 54 in a manner that is known to thoseskilled in the art.

In a present embodiment, the default viewfinder resolution is 240×180pixels and the default zoom level is set to 2.6× (two-point-six times).Steps 315 and 320 are represented in FIG. 5, where display 54 is shownpresenting a viewfinder 100. Viewfinder 100 is implemented byconfiguring processor 78 to receive an image of subject S throughphotosensor chip 62 and then generate a representation of that image ondisplay 54. The size of the subject S on viewfinder 100 is consistentwith the zoom level of 2.6×, and accordingly, not all of subject S isshown occupying the area of the viewfinder on display 54.

In addition to viewfinder 100, processor 78 is also configured tocontrol display 54 so as to present a status bar 104 thereon. Status bar104 includes a zoom level indicator 108 and a flash icon 112. Zoom levelindicator 108 is thus shown in FIG. 5 with the value “2.6×” indicatingthe zoom level. Flash icon 112, when active, indicates that flash 66will fire when the actual picture is taken. Status bar 104 also includesa picture count indicator 116, indicating the number of pictures thatcan be taken and stored in the memory of device 30. Status bar 104 alsoincludes a shutter control indicator 120.

Shutter control indicator 120 is rendered on display 54 in-line withtrackball 46, indicating that actuation of trackball 46 will control theoperation of the camera. Shutter control indicator 120 includes an iconin the form of a picture of a camera in the center, representing that ifthe user depresses trackball 46, then a picture of the subject withinviewfinder 100 will be taken and stored.

Next, at step 325, a determination is made as to whether the trackballhas been rotated. If no, then method 300 advances to step 330 at whichpoint a determination is made as to whether trackball 46 has beendepressed. If “no” method 300 advances from step 330 to step 335 and adetermination is made as to whether to continue with the camerafunction. A “no” determination could be made at step 335 for a varietyof reasons. For example, an incoming call could automatically cause thecamera function to be discontinued in favour of an application on device30 that manages incoming calls. Alternatively, the user of device 30could input a command using keys 42, or keyboard 38, indicating that theuser wished to exit the camera application.

Returning to step 330, if, however, trackball 46 is depressed thenmethod 300 advances from step 330 to step 345 at which point an imagewill be captured of the subject as it appears within viewfinder 100.

Returning to step 325, if, however, trackball 46 is rotated then method300 advances from step 325 to step 350 At step 350, a determination ismade as to whether the rotation of trackball 46 indicates an instructionto “zoom in”. In a present embodiment, a determination of “yes” is madeat step 350 when trackball 46 is rotated towards shutter controlindicator 120. Put in other words, if the directions that can be rotatedby trackball 46 are consistent with the cardinal points of the compass,(as shown in FIG. 5) then a “yes” determination is made when trackball46 is rotated in the “North” direction.

If the determination at step 350 is “no”, then at step 360, adetermination is made as to whether rotation of trackball 46 indicatedan instruction to “zoom out”. In a present embodiment, a determinationof “no” is made at step 350 when trackball 46 is rotated towardskeyboard 38. Put in other words, if the directions that can be rotatedby trackball 46 are consistent with the cardinal points of the compass,then a “no” determination is made when trackball is rotated in the“South” direction.

Steps 355 and 365 are thus reserved for the performance of the actualzoom in or zoom out functions, respectively, the details of which arediscussed in detail below with reference to FIG. 8.

At the conclusion of the zooming-in at step 355 (and by extension thereturn to step 320), the subject S will appear to be closer withinviewfinder 100. Likewise, the conclusion of the zooming-out at step 365(and by extension the return to step 320), the subject S will appear tobe farther away within viewfinder 100.

According to an exemplary embodiment, three levels of zooming arecontemplated, however it should be understood that any number of levelsof zooming can be implemented, provided the photosensor chip 62 is ofsufficient resolution. Three levels have, however, in the exemplaryembodiment been determined to achieve a high level of usability.

In another embodiment, a novel preview screen is indicated generally at124 in FIG. 6. Preview screen 124 can be generated by processor 78 ondisplay 54 after, for example, step 345 of method 300 is performed.Thus, in FIG. 6 screen 124 is shown with the picture of subject S takenat step 345 within a picture window 128 in viewfinder 100 along with apreview status bar 132 which replaces status bar 104.

Preview status bar 132 includes five icons, which correspond to fourdifferent options that are available to the user. These icons are:return-to-viewfinder 136; delete-picture 140; crop 144; send 148; andfile 152. When preview screen 124 is presented after performance ofmethod 300, the picture 124 will have been saved in a file locationrepresented by file icon 152. Return-to-viewfinder 136, as the nameimplies, leaves the picture shown in picture window 128 saved inpersistent storage 82 according to the file name and locationrepresented by file icon 152. Selecting return-to-viewfinder 136 can beused to begin method 300 anew. Delete-picture 140 can be used to deletethe picture shown in picture window 128 from persistent storage device82. Once delete-picture 140 is selected, the picture is deleted and thenmethod 300 begins anew. Crop 144 can be used to select certain portionsof the picture stored in picture window 128, and such portions can besaved as new pictures on persistent storage device 82 and/or can beassociated with one or more contacts in a contact-manager applicationthat executes on device 30. Send 148 can be used to send the picturewithin picture window 128 via email, or via multimedia messaging service(MMS) or the like, using the wireless email capabilities of device 30.File 152 can be used to view and/or edit the file name of the picture,and/or browse through other photographs stored on persistent storagedevice 82 and load them for viewing within preview screen 124.

Individual icons on the preview status bar 132 can be selected by usingtrackball 46 to sequentially highlight each one of the icons until thedesired icon is highlighted, and then depressing trackball 46 toactually select the function associated with that icon.

With reference to FIG. 7, details of the viewfinder resolution selectionand zoom functionality of method 300 are set forth according to anembodiment, indicated generally as method 400. Thus, at step 410, theuser may select a preferred viewfinder resolution by, for example,activating the menu key (e.g. the key 42 located adjacent and to theleft (West) of trackball 46), which causes display of a menu 130 asshown in FIG. 8. The menu 130 provides a list of options based on theapplication that the user is currently accessing (i.e. in this case, thecamera application). If the camera is configured according to thedefault viewfinder resolution (240×180) then the menu will display a‘Full Screen’ option (320×240), whereas if the camera is configuredaccording to the ‘Full Screen’ viewfinder resolution (320×240) then themenu will display a ‘Default’ viewfinder resolution option (240×180).

When operating in the viewfinder mode, the photosensor chip 62automatically scales the image data to the selected viewfinderresolution (i.e. 240×180 or 320×240, as selected at step 410). Toperform a digital zoom, (i.e. a YES decision at step 415), a crop regionof interest (ROI) is specified as discussed above in connection withFIG. 6, and the selected ROI is cropped (step 420). For example, inorder to implement a 2× digital zoom on a photosensor chip 62incorporating a 1600×1200 pixel array, a 800×600 centre crop isspecified. The photosensor chip 62 then, at step 425, scales this regionof interest to the selected viewfinder resolution (e.g. 240×180 or320×240). Because the user sees a cropped region of interest that hasbeen scaled to the selected viewfinder resolution, the user experiencesthe effect of digital zoom.

If no zoom is selected by the user (i.e. a NO decision at step 415),then the image is scaled (step 425) without any cropping.

As an example, for a 1600×1200 sensor array with a selected viewfinderresolution of 320×240, the following operations are performed byphotosensor chip 62. For 1× zoom level (i.e. no zoom), the 1600×1200image is scaled to 320×240. For a 2× digital zoom, the 1600×1200 imageis cropped to 800×600 and then scaled to 320×240. For a 4× digital zoom,the 1600×1200 image is cropped to 400×300 and then scaled to 320×240.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that once the cropped region(in pixels) becomes smaller than the selected viewfinder resolution, nomore digital zoom can be applied. Thus, with a 320×240 resolutionviewfinder approximately 1600/320=5× digital zoom may be provided. Witha smaller (240×180) viewfinder, up to 1600/240=6.7 times digital zoommay be provided. However, in practice, due to the manner in whichcropping and scaling is typically performed by the photosensor chip 62,the rate at which the image data is clocked out during a digital zoomoperation is directly proportional to the amount of zoom being applied.Thus, data at 2× zoom is clocked out at a higher rate than data at 1×zoom, etc. The physical constraints of the baseband processor 78 dictatethe maximum clock rate at which the data can be latched into theprocessor 78. This limitation also dictates the amount of zoom that canbe applied. Thus, although it may be theoretically possible to obtain upto 5× zoom with a 320×240 viewfinder, the high clock rates at which thedata must be clocked out during a 5× zoom operation may make thisunfeasible.

The foregoing represents exemplary embodiments only. Other embodimentsand variations are contemplated. For example, it is contemplated thatvoice activation may be employed (via microphone 50) for the user tocontrol functionality of the camera application, such as zooming (in orout), image cropping, etc., rather than using the trackball 46 and/orkeys 42. These and other embodiments are believed to be within the scopeof the claims attached hereto.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method in a portable electronic devicehaving a camera application, a viewfinder having at least two viewfinderresolutions, a multidirectional input device, and a sensor array, themethod comprising: when a zoom level of the camera application is 1×,generating a first image by scaling a predetermined number of rows andcolumns of pixels of the sensor array to a selected viewfinderresolution at a given frame rate; when the zoom level is greater than1×, and when the selected viewfinder resolution is smaller than alargest viewfinder resolution, cropping a region of interest of thepredetermined number of rows and columns of pixels in accordance withthe zoom level and generating a second image by scaling the croppedregion of interest to the selected viewfinder resolution at a frame ratehigher than the given frame rate; receiving, from the multidirectionalinput device, input comprising an indication of the zoom level and aviewfinder resolution; and, generating images according to one of eitheran enlarged or reduced field of view on the viewfinder depending on adirection of the input.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the selectedviewfinder resolution comprises one or more of 240×180and 320×240. 3.The method of claim 2 wherein the predetermined number of rows andcolumns of pixels is 1600×1200.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the1600×1200 pixels are scaled to 320×240 for a 1× zoom level.
 5. Themethod of claim 3 wherein the 1600×1200 pixels are cropped to 800×600and scaled to 320×240 for a 2× zoom level.
 6. The method of claim 3wherein the 1600×1200 pixels are cropped to 400×300 and scaled to320×240 for a 4× zoom level.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein a rate atwhich image data is clocked out is proportional to an amount of zoombeing applied during a digital zoom operation.
 8. A portable electronicdevice comprising: a sensor array having a predetermined number of rowsand columns of pixels for converting light into electronic signals at afirst frame rate; a camera application; a viewfinder comprising at leasttwo viewfinder resolutions for displaying images for the cameraapplication; at least one user input for receiving an indication of thezoom level and a viewfinder resolution, the at least one user inputcomprising a multidirectional input device; and, a processor coupled tothe sensor array and the viewfinder and enabled to: when a zoom level ofthe camera application is 1×, generate a first image by scaling apredetermined number of rows and columns of pixels of the sensor arrayto a selected viewfinder resolution at a given frame rate; and when thezoom level is greater than 1×, and when the selected viewfinderresolution is smaller than a largest viewfinder resolution: crop aregion of interest of the predetermined number of rows and columns ofpixels in accordance with the zoom level; generate a second image byscaling the cropped region of interest to the selected viewfinderresolution at a frame rate higher than the given frame rate; receiveinput from the multidirectional input device; and, generate the imagesaccording to one of either an enlarged or reduced field of view on theviewfinder depending on a direction of the input.
 9. The device of claim8 wherein the at least one user input further comprises a microphone forvoice activating the processor to generate the images according to oneof either the enlarged or reduced field of view of the image on theviewfinder based on user voice commands.
 10. The device of claim 8,wherein the at least one user input further comprises a microphone forvoice activating the processor to crop the region of interest based onuser voice commands.
 11. The device of claim 8, wherein the processor isfurther enabled to receive a signal corresponding to themultidirectional input device being depressed, and, responsive to thesignal, capture for saving on a persistent storage device a capturedimage; the captured image corresponding to an image on the viewfinder.12. The device of claim 8, wherein the input in a first direction isindicative of zooming-in and input in a second direction is indicativeof zooming-out.
 13. The device of claim 8, wherein the selectedviewfinder resolution comprises one or more of 240×180 and 320×240. 14.The device of claim 8, wherein the predetermined number of rows andcolumns of pixels is 1600×1200.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein theprocessor is further enabled to scale the 1600×1200 pixels to 320×240for a 1× zoom level.
 16. The device of claim 14, wherein the processoris further enabled to crop the 1600×1200 pixels to 800×600 and scale thepixels to 320×240 for a 2× zoom level.
 17. The device of claim 14,wherein the processor is further enabled to crop the 1600×1200 pixels to400×300 and scale the pixels to 320×240 for a 4× zoom level.
 18. Thedevice of claim 8, wherein a rate at which image data is clocked out isproportional to an amount of zoom being applied during a digital zoomoperation.
 19. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitorycomputer usable medium having a computer readable program code adaptedto be executed to implement a method comprising: at a portableelectronic device having a camera application, a viewfinder having atleast two viewfinder resolutions, a multidirectional input device, and asensor array, when a zoom level of the camera application is 1×,generating a first image by scaling a predetermined number of rows andcolumns of pixels of the sensor array to a selected viewfinderresolution at a given frame rate; when the zoom level is greater than1×, and when the selected viewfinder resolution is smaller than alargest viewfinder resolution, cropping a region of interest of thepredetermined number of rows and columns of pixels in accordance withthe zoom level and generating a second image by scaling the croppedregion of interest to the selected viewfinder resolution at a frame ratehigher than the given frame rate; receiving, from the multidirectionalinput device, input comprising an indication of the zoom level and aviewfinder resolution; and, generating images according to one of eitheran enlarged or reduced field of view on the viewfinder depending on adirection of the input.